Wil and Sarah had come to town for a routine appointment. Sarah was 28 weeks pregnant with their twin girls. That appointment, it turned out, was anything but routine. The ultrasound raised concerns; in the early stages of labor, Flight for Life took Sarah to UCHealth Memorial North in Colorado Springs. “For six days, they stopped my labor”, Sarah said. And, then, at 29 weeks pregnant, their tiny girls, Josie and Hayley, were born.

The Bledsoe’s live on a ranch two hours from Colorado Springs. Putting that into perspective, Wil said, “We drive 30 minutes just to get a gallon of milk.” Knowing they couldn’t be more than a heartbeat away from their tiny babies, they began looking for long term housing options while the girls were being cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital, Colorado, Colorado Springs. The options were limited.
One of the nurses at Children’s told them that the brand new Ronald McDonald House was near completion, next door. For the first few weeks, Wil and Sarah secured less-than-ideal accommodations. They counted down the days until the Ronald McDonald House opened their doors. As one of the first families in the new House, the Bledsoe’s stayed 54 days and nights.

Sarah added, “It really felt like your Ronald McDonald House was made for the situation we were in.” She talked of the incredible support they received from staff and volunteers. “People who knew a bit of our story were there for us.” She went on, “It was a breath of fresh air. I felt really comfortable here and everyone was so kind!” From healthy, nutritious nightly meals (that became a quick “to go” lunch at the NICU) to a refrigerator where she could store her breast milk, Sarah said, “You thought of everything!” She added, “And, a listening ear meant the most.”

The Bledsoe’s continue to come back and stay at our Ronald McDonald House while their girls do therapies that further support their health and well-being.
And, their young family has GROWN. With the birth of little brother, Liam, Sarah said, “We can now check the box of parents who have three children under the age of two!” She added, “The girls adore him! They shower him with attention and kisses all day long.”